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UK Civil Aviation Regulations

These are published by the CAA on our UK Regulations pages. EU Regulations and EASA Access Guides published by EASA no longer apply in the UK. Our website and publications are being reviewed to update all references. Any references to EU law and EASA Access guides should be disregarded and where applicable the equivalent UK versions referred to instead.



The CAA has been responsible for aviation security regulatory activity and compliance monitoring since 1 April 2014, when these functions transferred from the Department for Transport (DfT). The respective present roles of the DfT and CAA in the aviation security field are documented in a Memorandum of Understanding and its annexed Statement of Responsibilities.

This expansion of our role was anticipated in the better regulation for aviation security consultation in 2011, and the relevant legal powers were set out in the Aviation Act 2012. New aviation security vetting responsibilities also formed part of the transfer package.

Alongside the transfer of these functions has come a requirement for industry, rather than the tax payer, to meet the cost of delivering them. This is in line with the 'user pays' principle which already applies generally across aviation regulation.

While the Government leads on international aviation security matters and UK aviation security policy (including the setting of security standards), the CAA regulates security arrangements at UK airports and for air carriers, cargo and in-flight suppliers to ensure that the relevant entities comply with UK and international security requirements. An overview of our responsibilities is available.

Restricted items at airports

Certain items are prohibited by law from being taken through airport security. Whether an item that is not prohibited is allowed through security is ultimately at the discretion of the airport, which may not allow any item it considers dangerous. The Department for Transport has a guide to hand baggage restrictions at UK airports, but you should check with the airport you are travelling from before departure if you have any concerns. We have produced additional detailed guidance on certain items that can cause issues at airport security.

Contact us

General Aviation Security Enquiries

CAA, 5th Floor
11 Westferry Circus
Canary Wharf, London, E14 4HD

Email: AviationSecurityEnquiries@avsec.caa.co.uk
Telephone: 020 7453 5874, or 5825

Confidential reporting

To provide information relating to aviation security concerns (in a confidential manner) please use the CAA's whistleblowing process

Urgent aviation security issues

For any urgent aviation security issues (i.e. those that represent an imminent threat to airports, aircraft or the wider aviation industry, please call the below out of office hours number.

Out of office hours

Telephone: 0330 022 1500
From outside the UK: +44 330 022 1500

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